Phoenix nightclub Char’s Has the Blues reopening with new name, new look

PHOENIX – Venerable Phoenix nightclub Char’s Has the Blues is reopening Friday with a new name and a new look nearly two years after closing because of COVID-19.

The venue on Seventh Avenue south of Camelback Road will be called Chars LIVE when it opens its doors for the first time since March 2020.

The building’s interior was renovated during the closure, and the owners are planning to add an outdoor patio with space for food trucks in the coming months.

“Preserving Chars’ history has been our number one priority since starting this reopening,” general manager Tom Georges said in a press release. “We want friends of the club to feel like they’re coming home when see how much care we put into refreshing the venue.”

Char’s Has the Blues opened in the 1980s and was known for featuring live blues and jazz. As Chars LIVE, the 2,245-square-foot venue is expanding the musical mix, with reggae, ska, DJs and more.

The reopening weekend lineup features Soul Power on Friday, Big Pete Pierson on Saturday and Nolaz on Sunday.

“Chars is an institution in the Melrose District and across Phoenix,” co-owner David Cameron said in the release. “We’ve upgraded the space, but we’re excited to keep and honor the happy, open vibe that everyone came to know and love.”

Chars LIVE will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday-Wednesday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday.

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